Tile with spacer lugs



27, 1958 H. N. SHUMAN 2,836,055

TILE WITH SPACER LUGS Filed March 23, .1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.HwrryN. Ska/man BY ATTORNEYS y 7, 1958 H. N. SHUMAN 2,836,055 v TILE ams PAcER was Filed March 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Fi 5 Hwrry[VI Shaman QWJ A T TORNEYS United States assets; Patented May 27, 1958lie 'HLE WITH SPACER LUGS Harry N. Shuman, East Sparta, Ohio, assignorto United States Ceramic Tile Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication March 23, 1953, Serial No. 343,303

4 Claims. (Cl. 72-18) The invention or discovery relates to. tile withspacer lugs, and more particularly to tile or blocks made of ceramicmaterial. Such ceramic tile or blocks may b square flat tile or blocks,which may be laid as a floor covering, or laid up as a wall usually inconnection with trim base tile and trim cap tile.

in laying up flat tile in a wall, a bottom row of trim base tile isfirst laid, one or more rows of fiat tile are then laid above the row oftrim base tile, and a row of trim cap tile is laid above the top row offlat tile.

The trim base tile, the flat tile, and the trim cap tile may be morebroadly termed tile or block units each having a front face, a backface, and a plurality of side faces. The front and back faces aregenerally parallel with each other and the side faces are generallyperpendicular to the front and back faces. In most cases the side facesof the tile or block units are rectangular, and the front and back facesare rectangular and very frequently square.

The back faces of the tile units are placed in setting material whichmay be cement mortar or other adhesive material.

In many cases the joints between the side faces of adjacent tile orblock units laid up in a wall, are parallel both horizontally andvertically. In some instances, it may be desired to lay up the tile withstaggered joints between the vertically adjacent side faces.

In a floor, similar alternative arrangements of the joints are used.

In any event, it is desirable that the joints between adjacent sidefaces of the tile or block units in either a wall or floor shall beuniform, so that substantially the same spacing may exist between eachpair of opposite side faces of the set tile or block units.

It is also desirable that the setting material extend between the jointsof adjacent side faces of the tile or block units from the back faces ofthe tile or block units to a uniform distance between the back and frontfaces of the tile.

The objects of the present invention or discovery include the provisionof tile or block units preferably made of ceramic material and whichhave improved spacer lugs arranged on the side faces of certain of thetile or block units, whereby all tile or block units in a wall,includtrim base tile, covering or flat tile, and trim cap tile may belaid up with proper joints between adjacent tile unit side faces.

'Further objects of the present invention or discovery include theprovision of such improved tile or block units having spacer lugs, andin which the spacer lugs may be incorporated only in covering or fiattile or block units, such improved tile or block units being adapted foruse in floors as well as walls.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the tile or block units,articles of manufacture, combinations and sub-combinations, whichcomprise the present invention or discovery, and the nature of which isset forth in the following general statement, and preferred emhodimentsof which together with their mode of use are 2 set forth by way ofexample in the following description, and which are particularly anddistinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming parthereof.

In general terms, the improved tile or block units of the presentinvention or discovery are preferably made of ceramic material, and eachincludes a front face and a back face, and polygonal side facesextending between the front face and the back face. On each side facethere are formed a plurality of lugs, which are preferably uniformlyspaced from each other in the direction between the end corners of theside face, the lug adjacent one corner on each side face being spaced alesser distance from the one corner than the lug adjacent the othercorner of the same side face.

By way of example, embodiments of the improved tile or block units ofthe present invention or discovery are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing one embodiment of the improvedtile or block unit hereof in the form of a glazed ceramic tile;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tile of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing one side face thereof;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing a wall including improved tileunits of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, laid up with trim base tile and trim captile units.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the improvedtile or block unit hereof in the form of a glazed ceramic tile;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing one side faceand side corner of the tile of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a floor including improved tile units ofFigs. 5 and 6.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved tile or block unit hereof in the form ofa glazed ceramic tile is indicated generally by 10 and is shownseparately in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and laid up in a wall 11 shown in Fig.4.

The tile or block unit 10 includes a back face 12, a top face 13, eachof which is generally square, and four flat side faces 14 extend betweenthe back face 12 and the top face 13. Adjacent side faces 14 makejunction with each other at corners 15. The tile or block unit 19 ispreferably made of fired ceramic material, and the top face 13 is glazedand has preferably rounded corners.

On each side face 14 there is formed a plurality of lugs 16 generallyparallel with the corners 15, and the back end 17 of each lug 16 islocated substantially in the plane of the back face 12 of the tile orblock unit 145, and the top end 18 of each lug 16 is locatedintermediate the back face 12 and the top face 13. Each lug 16 is tlhuslocated between the back face 12 and the top face The distance betweenthe 'back end 17 and the top end 18 of each lug 16 may be termed theheight of the lug, and the width of the lug in the directionperpendicular to its height is substantially less than the height of thelug, and the height of the lug is less than the distance between theback face 12 and top face 13 of the unit.

Each lug 1e protrudes outwardly from the plane one of the side faces 14a distance which is less or narrower than its width and less than itsheight, as shown in Fig. 7. Further, as shown in Fig. 3, the protrudingdistance and also the width of each lug 16 decreases from the bottom totop of the lug.

On each side face 14 of each tile or block unit 16, the lugs 16 areequally spaced from each other. On each side face 14, however, one endlug 16 is spaced closer to the adjacent corner 15, than the spacing ofthe other 7 there may be provided'a plurality of ribs19.

' Thus in laying up the fiat tile by side as shown in Fig. 4, the lugs16 on adjacent sidefaces 14 of the'tile or block units 10 interfit' witheach end lug 16 from the other corner of the particular side "face.

For example, in Fig. l'thle central or nearest corner 15.has..anjendlug-.16.;outhe left side face '14 spaced closer'toiit than the spacingof .the. other end lug 16 of theleft side 14' from the left hand corner15. On the right hand side face 14 as seen inFig. 1, the extremerighthand lug,16 is spaced alesser distance than the right hand corner 15than is the spacing O the other end lug 16 on the right hand side face14 from the center corner 15. 7

As best shown in Fig; 2, the lugs on each side face 14 of each tileorblock unit 10 are spaced in a similar manner.

On' the'bottorn face not each tile or block unit 16 In the wall 11 shownin Fig. 4 a bottorn row of trim b s til each in cate by 20 is fir t laidp- N xt; a row f v mpr vedflat l or ock u itslfl is laid o the pp r s eace of t rim base tile n ts 243.. H

Next, a top' row of trim cap tile units each indicated s erafly by i isa d up on he topside fa s. of the fl i o blo sjun t 1.0-,

As 'is clearly shown in Fig; 4, the. location and ar-. rangement ofthelugs 16 provides for a'uniform .spacing of the joints between'the'adjacent .side faces of the fiat tile or block units 10, and alsobetween the units 7 1t? and the lower. trim base tile units 20, andbetween the units It? and the upper trim. cap tile. units 21.

T he side faces 14 are parallel. with each .other on or block units 10side other and the outer face of each glug l6 on eachblock unit It)abuts the adjacent side face 14 0f -the adjacent side by side block unit10, thus making uniform.'joirits betweemthe adjacent tile side faces'14.Furthen'the lugs ldoflone tile unit 10 cannot interfere with-the V lugs16 of any adjacent tile units-10. Thejoints between the flat tile units"10, and the lower trim base'tile units 24} are also mad'e in the propermanner by -the Also, the 'joints 1 are correctly formed between the topside faces 14ofthe fiat tile: or blockunits. 10 and the trimfiattilelunitsZl. l

r 7 r V tile or block iinits 11i} are set in a checkerboard arrange lmerit, and shown before the joints are filled with'mortar.

. spaced lugs 1-6 on the'low'er side'faces 1410f. theiflat tile 7 Fromabroad standpoint the wall 11," and the floor or block units 10. a

material, and the top face 113 is glazed and has preferably roundedcorners.

On each side face 114 there is formed a plurality of spacer lugs 116generally parallel with the corners115, and the back end 117 of each lug116 is located substantiallyin the plane of the back face 112 of thetile or block unit 1143, and the top end 118 of each lug 116 is locatedintermediate the back face; 112 and the top face 113. Each lug 116 isthus located between the back face 112 and the top face 113. v Thedistance between the back end'1'17 and the top end 118 of each lug 116may be termed the height of the lug, and the widthrof the lug in thedirection perpendicular to its height varies from a. maximum at its.

back end to a minimum at its top end, and on the average issubstantially less than the height of the lug, and the height of thelug' is less than the distance between the back face 112 a 1d top face1130f the unity."

.Each lug 116 protrudes or projects, outwardlyfronr the plane of one ofthe side faces-114 a distance. which 15 decreases progressively to its..top end.. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, the protruding distance :isless than its height. Still further, as hestfseen in Fig.6; .the

width of each lug 116 decreases fromv the back. end or a bottom. to thetop of the lug.

Each lug 116 maybe otherwise described as being'a pyramidal lug,'and.its back end '117 constitutes the base of the pyramidal lug, and its topend 118 constitutes.

the apex of l the pyramidallug. One side face of the pyramidal lug ismerged with one of the side fa'ce's11'4' of the tile and 'block unit110,"and the other exposed side faces of the pyramidal lug taperupwardly frorn its base to its apex.

particular side face.

The tile or block unit 110 thus differ-s fth'e V or blockunit 10 only inthe shape of the lugs ns-as compared with the shape of the lugs 16;

'In the floor covering 111 shown in Fig. 7,

. covering 111, each constitutes a multiple block unit q fl.

' The arrangement of the lugs 16 as above described 7 permits laying theflat tileor block units 19 in a stag- 'gered manner,rather than in thecheckerboard arrangement shown in'the wall 11 of Fig, '4. g

Each tile or block unit 10 'may be cut to make frac thanthe height'orthickness of the side face, which is i the height of. the mortar in thejoints when the tile are 'seL/ A second' embodimentrof the improved tileor block unit hereof in the form of glazed ceramic .tile.isiindica-tedgenerally by 110 and is shown separately in Figs;

Sand 6 and laid. or set as a floorfccivering 111 shown in Fig. 7;

The tile or block includes a back 15165112, a

1 top face 113, each of which is generally'square, and four: flat sidefaces 1,114 extend betweenithe 'back face K112 and the top face" 113. lAdjacent side faces 114 make junction :with .eaehpther at v corners1:15. The

tiles! b1Qki1nit lll n f r b yfmade o fired; amic struction in whicheach block unit includes aside face; adjacent a side'face of anotherblock, .andin. which eajch adjacent side face .terzninates'in corners'located' similar- V ly to the corners of theother, and in which eachad-'1 jacent or opposite'side face is' p'rovided with" pr0truding-spacer lugs, the spacer lugs on one side face includ I ing one.located nearer one corner of its side .facepthan V is the distancebetween the spacer :lug on the opposite side face from its similarcorner, and the spacer. lugs.

on each side face being equally spaced; Thus, none of the spacer lugs ofone block unit can interfere with the spacer lugs of adjacent blockunits. a

Asillustrated'the tile or block units 10 and have square top and bottomfaces. Tile or block unitsgernbodying the presentlimprovernents may berectangular when desired.

It is noted thateach ofjthe tile or block units 10 is identical withevery otherblock unit 10 in the wall 11 shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, eachof the'tile or block units 110. is identicalwith. every 'other blockunit 110 in the foot covering 111 shown in '7 w 'In the.foregoing,,certain terms have been used"for V ,brevity, clearnessyandunderstandingibut no .unnecesl-f sary limitations 'arel to be impliedtherefrom beyond he equ r m ts of, p i r' r e au u h ords;

'less or narrower thanits width at its'ba'ckend, and

are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the embodimcnts of the improved constructions illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention or discovery is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction set forth.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, anduse of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new anduseful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art, are set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A tile unit having substantially square back and top faces, flat sidefaces extending between the back and top faces and terminating incorners between side faces, each side face having protruding therefrom aplurality of similar lugs on each side of the center line between thecorners thereof, the spacing between all adjacent lugs beingsubstantially identical, said lugs extending from said back face towardssaid top face but terminating short of said top face, said lugs havingsuch a width along said side faces as to leave between adjacent lugs aspace at least as great as the combined width of a plurality of saidlugs, the lugs along the length thereof on each side face being locatedat substantially the same relative positions, each lug on any one sideface being spaced from any corner common to an adjacent side face adistance different from the spacing of any lug on said adjacent sideface from said common corner, and with each lug nearest each corner ofeach side face being farther from the center line of its respective sideface than from said corner to which it is nearest, whereby a pluralityof said tile units are posi tionable any side by any side with thecorners thereof aligned or staggered so that the lugs on any side faceof any tile unit abut the flat side faces of any adjacent tile unit.

2. A tile unit as set out in claim 1 wherein the protruding distance ofeach lug decreases as the lug extends away from said back face.

3. A tile unit as set out in claim 1 wherein said plurality of lugs oneach side of said corner line consists of two lugs.

4. A tile unit as set out in claim 1 wherein the width of said lugsalong said side faces is less than the spacing between said back and topfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 93,280Cranford Aug. 3, 1869 926,282 Nicholls June 29, 1909 1,694,665 ParkerDec. 11, 1928 2,095,012 Renkert Oct. 5, 1937 2,175,698 Netz Oct. 10,1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,048 Switzerland of 1912 355,455 Great Britain of1931 296,695 Italy of 1932 433,891 Italy of 1948 645,479 Great Britainof 1950

